Navigating a four-way stop can be straightforward when one or two cars arrive at a time, but confusion often results when multiple vehicles reach the intersection simultaneously. There’s actually a rule of thumb we should all follow to avoid the herky-jerky “starts and stops”.
At a four-way stop, the primary rule is that the first vehicle to arrive has the right of way. However, complications occur when two or more vehicles arrive at the same time. In such scenarios, the vehicle on the left must yield to the car on the right. This means that if you find yourself at a four-way stop with another car directly to your right, you should allow them to go first. This right-hand rule of thumb helps prevent deadlock and ensures a predictable pattern of movement through the intersection.
